Tip #1
This week's tip is a good example of how literal translations can
cause confusion and lead to red-faced embarrassment or even
unintentional offense.
-Do you possess a strong character or maybe you have friends or
relatives who do? Perhaps you're married to someone who possesses a
strong character?
-To describe people with strong characters, you say:
Tener mucha madera - To have a lot of wood.
Por ejemplo: Mi amigo bueno Ramón tiene mucha madera - My good friend Ramón has a
strong character, literally: My good friend Ramón has a lot of wood.
-So, if you hear this phrase, you'll know that it has a totally
different meaning in Spanish than it does in English so you won't
be confused or get the wrong end of the stick - to stretch the wood
link even further! Tip #2:
If you know someone who is a lucky charm, who brings luck with them wherever they go, there is a great phrase in Spanish you can use:
-Sylvia tiene los santos de su parte - Sylvia is a lucky charm, literally, Sylvia has the saints on her side.
It's another vibrant Spanish phrase reflecting the influence of the Church over Hispanic culture.
But what about those unfortunate people who seem to bring bad luck with them wherever they go, a jinx as we say in English? Really easy, the word for jinx in Spanish is Un/a gafe. So: -Diego es un gafe - Diego is a jinx
This week's tip is a good example of how literal translations can
cause confusion and lead to red-faced embarrassment or even
unintentional offense.
-Do you possess a strong character or maybe you have friends or
relatives who do? Perhaps you're married to someone who possesses a
strong character?
-To describe people with strong characters, you say:
Tener mucha madera - To have a lot of wood.
Por ejemplo:
Mi amigo bueno Ramón tiene mucha madera - My good friend Ramón has a
strong character, literally: My good friend Ramón has a lot of wood.
-So, if you hear this phrase, you'll know that it has a totally
different meaning in Spanish than it does in English so you won't
be confused or get the wrong end of the stick - to stretch the wood
link even further!
Tip #2:
If you know someone who is a lucky charm, who brings luck with them wherever they go, there is a great phrase in Spanish you can use:
-Sylvia tiene los santos de su parte - Sylvia is a lucky charm, literally, Sylvia has the saints on her side.
It's another vibrant Spanish phrase reflecting the influence of the Church over Hispanic culture.
But what about those unfortunate people who seem to bring bad luck with them wherever they go, a jinx as we say in English? Really easy, the word for jinx in Spanish is Un/a gafe. So:
-Diego es un gafe - Diego is a jinx